NEWS RELEASES
June 21, 2006 (12:35 p.m. EDT)
No. 70
MINISTER MACKAY CONDEMNS PRESENCE OF TEHRAN CHIEF
PROSECUTOR AT UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of the Atlantic
Canada Opportunities Agency, today made the following statement deploring the
presence at the inaugural meeting of the UN Human Rights Council of Tehran
Prosecutor General Saeed Mortazavi:
“The presence of Mr. Mortazavi in Iran’s delegation demonstrates the Government of
Iran’s complete contempt for internationally recognized principles of human rights. The
Government of Canada expresses its disgust at the fact that Iran would choose to
include such a person in its delegation to a new UN body intended to promote the
highest standards of respect for human rights.
“By including Mr. Mortazavi in its delegation, Iran is trying to discredit the Council and
deflect attention from the Council’s goal of ensuring greater respect for human rights.
“Two official Iranian government investigations found that Prosecutor General Mortazavi
ordered the illegal arrest and detention of Canadian journalist Zahra Kazemi, which led
to her torture and death. He then falsified documents to cover up his involvement in her
case. Mr. Mortazavi has also been involved in the harsh clampdown on the Iranian
press and the arrests of many Iranian journalists.
“Canada is committed to making the UN Human Rights Council a respected and
effective body that will encourage improved human rights performance by all UN
member states. Iran ran for the Council but failed to secure the support of a majority of
UN members.
“Canada has shared its assessment of the Government of Iran’s involvement in the
killing of Zahra Kazemi and the role of Mr. Mortazavi in that case with the President of
the Council, representatives of the host government—Switzerland—and the Office of
the High Commissioner for Human Rights. We have also called on other delegations to
the Human Rights Council meeting to condemn Mr. Mortazavi’s presence.”
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